Perspectives from India: Metafic’s Unique Vision- Going Beyond Profit for Social Impact

In a world where businesses often prioritize revenue and growth, Metafic, a tech powerhouse from India, is challenging the status quo.

With a vision that goes beyond profit, Metafic is determined to use AI and cutting-edge technology to make a real difference in the nonprofit sector. Raja Kumar, Senior Account Manager at Metafic, shares the company’s passion for leveraging AI solutions to empower NGOs—demonstrating that social impact, not just profit, can drive innovation. In this interview, Raja provides insights into Metafic’s unique approach and their unwavering commitment to creating a better world through technology.

Can you briefly introduce your company, its core passion, values, and expertise? What excites you most about your work?

Raja Kumar: Certainly! I’m Raja, the Senior Account Manager at Metafic, where I oversee sales management and operations. Metafic has been around for over seven years, with a presence in India, the USA, the UK, and Singapore. We have a team of over 400 in-house professionals working across multiple projects.

Our expertise lies in mobile, web, and custom software development, as well as creating AI solutions for various industries globally. We also offer staff augmentation services, providing our skilled professionals to clients on a contract basis. Our technological proficiency includes React, Python, Java, PHP, and Ruby on Rails and all emerging technologies. We also develop custom ERP and CRM solutions on the ERPNext platform.  

In mobile and web application development, we use both traditional methods and low-code platforms like OutSystems and Bubble.io, with whom we are partnered. This enables us to speed up the development process while maintaining quality. Our goal is to handle challenges effectively, offering tailored recommendations and solutions based on our clients’ needs. That’s a brief overview of Metafic.

What motivated you to join the AI for Changemakers program? What inspired this decision?

Before joining the AI for Changemakers program, we had already partnered with Tech to the Rescue, successfully completing several NGO projects. This collaboration inspired us to further explore how we could contribute to the NGO sector, particularly through AI solutions.

At Metafic.ai, our dedicated AI division, we specialize in developing custom AI and GPT solutions, as well as fine-tuning large language models for various industries. We view AI as a long-term engagement trend with the potential to shape the future over the next 5-10 years.

Our primary goal is to empower NGOs by providing advanced technology solutions that enable them to leverage these advancements to serve society better. While global brand promotion is important, our main focus is on making a positive impact through technological innovation, rather than generating revenue.

It sounds like you’re positioning Metafic as a problem-solver while building AI capabilities to drive growth. Why did you choose this particular project with Start Network? What excites you about it?

Raja Kumar: Start Network aims to automate their existing processes, particularly by integrating financial components into a single platform, which involves implementing LLM (Large Language Model) programs. This project appealed to us because it aligns with our AI expertise and our commitment to offering sustainable, efficient solutions.

Although I’m not the technical expert, I can say that we have a team of specialists ready to tackle any challenges that arise. Our goal is to provide a solution that will be effective for the next five years. NGOs often cannot afford to invest heavily in emerging technologies, so we are offering our expertise at a very low cost—something that many companies hesitate to do.

Can you share your expectations for the effectiveness of AI in this project?

Raja Kumar: We expect AI to play a pivotal role in automating data flow and model output processes. We are planning to develop tools that seamlessly integrate and automate these tasks. We’ve delivered numerous AI projects in the recent past, and our ongoing AI projects further reinforce our confidence that this initiative will be highly successful.

What advice would you give to nonprofits considering AI adoption? Is there a way to start small and then scale, or is collaboration with a company like yours the best approach?

Raja Kumar: In my experience, AI is becoming increasingly integrated into both current and future applications to enhance functionality. For nonprofits, AI can provide tremendous value, from predictive analysis to advanced analytics and forecasting. Starting small, such as implementing a custom GPT solution as an AI assistant, is a great first step. This could, for instance, help people from various parts of the world learn about your organization or program without requiring direct human interaction. As the AI evolves, it will become even more valuable. While AI technologies are set to transform all sectors, starting with a focused, manageable project allows for scalable growth, making it particularly beneficial for NGOs.

Is there anything you’d like to share with the IT industry or companies that are hesitant about engaging in socially impactful projects?

Raja Kumar: That’s a challenging question because companies have different priorities. Many focus on revenue and profit, but our approach at Metafic is different. We prioritize brand promotion and view profit as secondary. This mindset isn’t for everyone, but it’s what drives us. When we connected with Tech to the Rescue, I was determined for our company to work on NGO projects, even though they aren’t as profitable. For us, having the logo of an NGO in our portfolio is impactful and rewarding.

We work on these projects at a fraction of the typical cost, which isn’t something every company can afford to do. While larger companies like Microsoft or Google might support NGOs, I’m not sure how many mid-sized or startup companies can contribute to NGO projects at little or no cost. We want to be an exception, even though I know not every company would agree with this approach.

JOIN THE MOVEMENT

As Metafic blazes the trail, extending a hand to drive meaningful change through the AI for Changemakers Accelerator program, we invite tech companies and nonprofits alike to join forces in this pivotal movement. Whether you’re a tech company eager to support pro bono or a nonprofit seeking to amplify your impact, there’s a place for you in this collaborative endeavor. Let’s stand together at the forefront of innovation, leveraging the power of AI to tackle society’s most pressing challenges.

Learn more about the AI for Changemakers Program and register to build AI for impact!